Unveiled

UNVEILED: A VISION OF JESUS FOR A CHURCH THAT MUST ENDURE

Revelation 1:1–8

BIG IDEA

The Jesus who will rule the future is the Jesus you must surrender to in the present.

ANCHOR PHRASE

See the King → Receive the Blessing → Live the Kingdom

INTRO — WHY YOU CANNOT LOSE HEART

We are the most:

informed connected entertained

generation in history; and the most:

anxious exhausted spiritually distracted.

We don’t need more information about the end times.

God did not give this book to be avoided. He gave it to be understood, obeyed, and lived. (MacArthur emphasis)

We need a vision of Jesus that sustains us in the present.

Because Revelation is not first about beasts and bowls.

It is:

an apocalypse: an unveiling (Rev 1:1) a prophecy: a word about God’s future (Rev 1:3) a letter: to real churches under real pressure (Rev 1:4–5) (Faithlife Study Bible)

This book was written to believers who were:

outnumbered marginalized persecuted

They lived in a world where saying “Jesus is Lord” could cost you your job, your family, or your life, because Rome demanded you say “Caesar is Lord.”

and tempted to lose heart.

Just like many in this room.

Revelation was written to suffering Christians to show them that the throne of heaven is more real than the chaos of earth.

1. SEE THE KING: THE REVELATION OF JESUS

Revelation 1:1–2

Revelation 1:1–2 NIV

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

“The revelation of Jesus Christ”

Not:

the revelation of events the revelation of the Antichrist the revelation of the timeline

The unveiling of a Person.

This is not the Revelation of John. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ, the unveiling of the risen, reigning, returning King. (Hamrick)

It is:

FROM Jesus ABOUT Jesus FOR the servants of Jesus (Rev 1:1)

Revelation 1:1 NIV

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

SERVANTS = SLAVES

The word is doulos: total ownership and devotion (Slavery AYBD).

The apostles regularly refer to themselves as servants of God because being dependent upon and yielded to God is the best way to hear his voice. Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1396.

The Greek word doulos can be translated as “slave” or “servant.” However, the translation “slave” is fitting because it describes a person’s total commitment and devotion to Jesus or another such person or thing (i.e., “slaves to sin”) John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Re 1:1.

You are not:

a fan a volunteer a church attender

You belong to Him.

That’s the first call of Revelation to us:

You don’t add Jesus to your life.

You surrender your life to Jesus.

THE TIME IS NEAR, BUT NOT THE WAY YOU THINK

The events of the book are spoken of as imminent (vv. 3; 22:10). New Testament writers often speak of end-time events as beginning in their own days (e.g., Rom 16:20; Heb 1:2; 1 Pet 4:7). God’s final victory over evil and the establishment of His kingdom will be completed in the future, but they have also been brought into the present through the death and resurrection of Jesus. John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Re 1:1.

The kingdom is:

future in completion present in inauguration (Rom 16:20; Heb 1:2; 1 Pet 4:7)

Romans 16:20 NIV

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Hebrews 1:2 NIV

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

1 Peter 4:7 NIV

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

The victory has already begun through the cross and resurrection.

So Revelation is not escape theology.

It is endurance theology.

So how do you become the kind of person who endures?

You don’t master this book. This book masters you.

2. RECEIVE THE BLESSING: THE RESPONSE THAT TRANSFORMS

Revelation 1:3

Revelation 1:3 NIV

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

This is the first of seven beatitudes in Revelation (Rev 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14).

The blessing is not for:

those who decode it those who debate it

But for those who:

READ it HEAR it KEEP it (Rev 1:3)

The blessing comes through obedience. (Oral Tradition / Literacy AYBD)

THIS MOMENT MATTERS

Most of the first Christians experienced Revelation exactly like this:

a gathered room the Word read aloud a people listening together

So this is not just a sermon.

This is participation in the original design of the book.

We are going to move slowly through this book, not because it is confusing, but because it is too rich to rush. (Hamrick concept)

Which means tonight is not information, it is formation.

WHY THE URGENCY?

“The time is near”

Not next on your clock.

Next on God’s calendar.

So your holiness cannot be postponed.

Your mission cannot be delayed.

Your surrender cannot wait.

Because this blessing flows out of your identity.

3. LIVE THE KINGDOM: WHO JESUS HAS MADE US

Revelation 1:4–6

Revelation 1:4–6 NIV

John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

GRACE & PEACE FROM THE TRINITY

From:

the One who is, was, and is to come the fullness of the Spirit (Isa 11:2; Rev 3:1; 4:5; 5:6) Jesus Christ (Rev 1:4–5)

Your life is held by the eternal God.

WHO JESUS IS?

Faithful witness → He stayed true unto death (John 18:37; 1 Tim 6:13)

John 18:37 NIV

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

1 Timothy 6:13 NIV

In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you

Firstborn from the dead → He inaugurated resurrection life (Col 1:15)

He is the firstborn from the dead — the inaugurator of the resurrection order, the guarantee that your future body is coming. (MacArthur emphasis)

Colossians 1:15 NIV

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Ruler of the kings of the earth → He reigns right now (Dan 2:47; Rev 17:14; 19:16)

Rome was on the throne when this was written. Jesus was on the throne in heaven. And the same is true today. (MacArthur-style historical force)

Daniel 2:47 NIV

The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”

Revelation 17:14 NIV

They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Revelation 19:16 NIV

On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.

Not future King.

Present King.

Which means your life is never at the mercy of Rome, culture, anxiety, or uncertainty, it is under the authority of Jesus.

WHAT JESUS HAS DONE

He LOVES us (present tense)

Right now, not when you finally get your life together.

He FREED us by His blood

Your deepest identity is not your sin, it is your redemption (Heb 9:22; Isa 53:10–12).

WHAT JESUS HAS MADE US

A kingdom and priests (Exod 19:5–6; 1 Pet 2:9; Rev 5:10)

God did for the Church what He first declared over Israel.

So CYA is not an event.

It is:

a kingdom community a priesthood on mission

You represent:

God to your campus your campus to God.

That means Revelation is not mainly about your future, it is about how you walk into class tomorrow, how you date, how you handle anxiety, how you live when no one is watching.

DOXOLOGY

“To Him be glory and dominion forever”

That is not a lyric.

That is your life direction.

(Amen = trust in God’s ability to accomplish it — AYBD)

Revelation is the only book in the Bible that promises a specific blessing to the one who reads it, hears it, and keeps it. Which means this book was not given to confuse the church; it was given to strengthen the church. (Hamrick emphasis)

And all of this is anchored in one unavoidable reality.

4. FIX YOUR HOPE ON THE RETURNING KING

Revelation 1:7–8

Revelation 1:7–8 NIV

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Daniel 7 → the Son of Man Acts 1:9 → the clouds

Acts 1:9 NIV

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Zechariah 12:10 → the pierced One

Zechariah 12:10 NIV

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

History is not moving toward chaos.

History is moving toward Jesus.

And that means your suffering is not meaningless and your obedience is not wasted.

TWO RESPONSES

Some will mourn.

Some will reign with Him.

Your response to Jesus now determines your response on that day.

ALPHA & OMEGA: THE MERISM

He is:

the beginning the end everything in between (Rev 1:8)

Revelation 1:8 NIV

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Your life is not the center of your story.

Jesus is.

Revelation was written to suffering Christians to show them that the throne of heaven is more real than the chaos of earth.

Therefore, DON’T LOSE HEART

To the tired believer:

He loves you now.

To the ashamed believer:

You are freed by His blood.

To the drifting believer:

You are still His kingdom.

To the anxious believer:

Your King is already on the throne.

Revelation is not written to satisfy your curiosity.

It is written to secure your endurance.

So here is the question:

Do you just attend church?

Or do you belong to the King?

Because the future has been unveiled, your present can be transformed.

Lift your eyes.

Your King is reigning. Your redemption is finished. Your calling is now.

So don’t lose heart.